Heaven upon earth, or, The best friend in the worst of times. Delivered in…

3. So for communion and fellowship, which ⟨p. 55⟩is in acquaintance. Those that are intimately acquainted, their communion in the way of discourse is very frequent, in making known their thoughts and apprehensions, their fears and wants; their minds are open one to another, and that which is the propriety of one, is by their acquaintance communicated to the use of both. If then I can find in reviewing the workings of my soul, that there hath been this sight of Heaven, this Spiritual Communion between my soul and God; that my heart hath been open to God; that I have gone to God when my heart hath been burdened with sorrow, I have discharged it into the bosom of God, as into the bosom of a friend; that in my doubts I have betaken my self to him, expecting comfort from him; that upon hearing his voice I have opened to him, and upon my opening he hath come in with smiles of love, and given me tokens of his favour: these things signify a state of acquaintance with God: but if I know not what it is to have given up my soul to God, to be his, and to have taken God to be mine, if I have had experience of receiving nothing else from God, but a partaking of the things of the world: if I have not been wont to communicate the workings of my mind to God, it betokeneth my unacquaintance with God.

3. So for communion and fellowship, which ⟨p. 55⟩is in acquaintance. Those that are intimately acquainted, their communion in the way of discourse is very frequent, in making known their thoughts and apprehensions, their fears and wants; their minds are open one to another, and that which is the propriety of one, is by their acquaintance communicated to the use of both. If then I can find in reviewing the workings of my soul, that there hath been this sight of Heaven, this Spiritual Communion between my soul and God; that my heart hath been open to God; that I have gone to God when my heart hath been burdened with sorrow, I have discharged it into the bosom of God, as into the bosom of a friend; that in my doubts I have betaken my self to him, expecting comfort from him; that upon hearing his voice I have opened to him, and upon my opening he hath come in with smiles of love, and given me tokens of his favour: these things signifie a state of acquaintance with God: but if I know not what it is to have given up my soul to God, to be his, and to have taken God to be mine, if I have had experience of receiving nothing else from God, but a partaking of the things of the world: if I have not been wont to communicate the workings of my mind to God, it betokeneth my unacquaintance with God.